Drivers

Field Study Proves Benefit of Restart Rule, FMCSA Says

A field test of the 34-hour restart provision of the new hours-of-service rule shows that the restrictions improve safety, the Federal Motor Carrier Motor Safety Administration reports.

The provision requiring drivers to take two successive periods off between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. during their restart is more effective at combatting fatigue than the earlier rule, according to the field test, the agency said.

The provision, which many trucking companies oppose, has been the source of considerable political controversy. Truckinginfo.com will post more details soon.

Comments

1.Earl Harris[ January 30, 2014 @ 09:42AM ]

What a load of crap. Amazing that they were able to conduct a field study and reach a conclusion in favor of FMSCA in only six months. More junk science in favor of junk policy by rule makers who aren't and never have been in the trucking industry.

2.Bill [ January 30, 2014 @ 09:44AM ]

Leave the two 1-5s, but drop the 168 hours between resets!!! That costs me a full shift per week.

3.Michael Dailey[ January 30, 2014 @ 10:00AM ]

What a surprise. The FMSCA conducts a field study and the results back up their rulemaking. Would you expect something else. Actually my drivers can live with the two consecutive 0100-0500 off duty periods. However the 168 hour rule is the dumbest rule I have seen. The results of that rule are less money for drivers, higher expenses for trucking companies, and more trucks on the roads during rush hour.

4.Cliff Downing[ January 30, 2014 @ 10:28AM ]

It does beg the question of how they were able to determine that fatigue is reduced. There has not been a long enough period to accurately determine that to a certainty. The FMCSA is a classic case of circular reasoning in action. They should be used as an example in a college course on logic. The inmates have truly taken over the asylum.

5.Matt moore[ January 30, 2014 @ 10:31AM ]

It does not help or creat safety. It causes. Drivers to be more in a rush. Stay on road the road longer. Instead of going home weekly now I have to stay out two plus weeks to make the same money. Study is BS and nothing but more government power grab and stopping of rights to make a living.

6.Brad[ January 30, 2014 @ 10:44AM ]

It's amazing that as smart as we are in this country. A law is passed then the study is Conducted. Government or not its just stupid people looking to make money.

7.Justin[ January 30, 2014 @ 10:46AM ]

As Earl Harris said, what a load of crap! There is no way that a comprehensive study could have been completed in this short of a time period. The article does not indicate who actually did the "field test", so how do we know how factual this "test" actually is? I wait with bated breath the full particulars of this load of garbage.

8.Jammer[ January 30, 2014 @ 10:50AM ]

Why don't we just let the criminals decide their sentence. Basically the same principle. FMCSA does not care what Trucking Co. nor what drivers have to say about their(FMCSA) fairy tale, unrealistic rules.

9.BarbRRB[ January 30, 2014 @ 11:38AM ]

Here is the link.http://news.wsu.edu/2014/01/30/wsu-research-study-supports-new-safety-rule-for-truck-drivers/#.Uuqn8D1dXIc100 drivers out of millions, how can this be an accurate study. I have always said that these studies are biased.

10.Stuart McClean[ January 30, 2014 @ 12:06PM ]

Yeah it does beg the question did the company doing the study know where the money was coming from? I am sure Ferrara told them "Here is $10 million go write a conclusion to this study question that supports my positiion"

11.jab8283[ January 30, 2014 @ 12:12PM ]

I do believe we truckers need an independent analysis of this rule and should call in the pro's Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman of the Mythbusters. If there is any funny business going on with the governments findings, these two clowns will expose the truth.

12.sunshine driven [ January 30, 2014 @ 12:17PM ]

if it wast for elogs and people feeling they need to do the max everyday just cut your hours to 8 1/2 i believe it is and you NEVER need a restart.but then again. i am just a one truck operation. not out here to kill me or anyone else.

13.Vic Friedrich[ January 30, 2014 @ 12:40PM ]

Well, here we go again. Washingtons pencil pushing desk driving know it alls pushing what they think is safety onto the transportation industry. Come out into the real world and find out what it's really about. Not for a week or two either. After 4 millon + miles with no chargeable accidents I guess it's time to get out. No one wants to do what really needs to be done because solutions are for someone else to do. What happened to "FOR THE PEOPLE"? We vote them in and they do what they want, not what we need. Washington fills there pockets and empty ours. WAKE UP PEOPLE! STAND UP FOR YOURSELVES!

14.Ralph[ January 30, 2014 @ 02:14PM ]

Is that after they had to wave all the rules or before?????Obviously they need to try and prop up their reason for existenceafter it was found that their new rules were crap and didn't work.

15.Wow[ January 30, 2014 @ 02:37PM ]

Just read the longer version 106 drivers, 415,000 miles, over 6 months. That's on average 3,915 miles per driver. If it takes 6months to drive 3,915 miles I would hope that they were not fatigued!!! good god this is stupid

16.WashingMoscow[ January 30, 2014 @ 08:23PM ]

A central government will control all aspects of business. This is just one example of what a college education and classroom theory provide. Can anyone tell me one successful government run business (post office, health care, social security....)? I'm afraid it is going to get worse before it gets better. Good luck out there and be safe my friends.

17.goofy gopher[ January 30, 2014 @ 10:57PM ]

doing the math it comes out to 163.125 miles per week per driver. the drivers must be making some big bucks per mile or going broke sitting in the truck stop.

18.JJonston[ January 31, 2014 @ 04:57AM ]

This whole idea of specifying the two 1-5's makes no sense. For one, the regs already state "no driver shall operate a CMV when ill or fatigued." Let's look at the reality of the 1-5's: If you normally go to work at late evening or early morning hours (Night driver on 2-driver truck) this is your normal work period your body is used to, just like the day driver is used to the day shift, now you have tinkered with the night driver's body clock by telling him he has to take time off in which would be his normal working hours. Second point here is all you need to do is run a 60/7 or 70/8 logand you can avoid the 1-5 AM's. They haven't really accomplished athing if the driver is smart enough to run a log book to old way. The third point is the 168 hour rule to start a 34 hour break. I have seen many changes in the 35 years in this business, and they become more absurd every decade.

19.Rolando Duran[ February 01, 2014 @ 09:33PM ]

They just try to excuse the unsane law.....now because of that we have to run in recap hours...because company has their schedule...routine...way to do business...congresss won't change the way of conduct business...and force us to work 7 days a week ....... [ because if u get back from a run after 1am you won't. Start your reset until midnight....that force to run in pick hours...]

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